A literary route through Barcelona at the end of the 19th century
The novel 'The City of Marvels', by Eduardo Mendoza, inspires the tour of the city
BarcelonaTourism of Catalonia has created a new literary route which travels to different points in Barcelona following the novel The City of Wondersby Eduardo Mendoza. In the book, Mendoza recounts the changes experienced in Barcelona at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries due to the Universal Expositions of 1888 and 1929, which transformed the city. This literary route follows the main settings of the novel.
The settings of 'The City of Marvels' come to life in Barcelona
The route begins in Plaça de Catalunya, the heart of modern Barcelona, which serves as a link between the old and new city. From nearby Plaça Urquinaona, the route descends along Via Laietana and heads towards the narrow streets of the Sant Pere neighborhood, passing by the Palau de la Música Catalana. Much of the novel takes place in this area of the city, the neighborhoods of Sant Pere, Santa Caterina, and La Ribera, where the route stops at the Santa Caterina and Born markets, as well as the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar. The first part of the itinerary, which corresponds to the time of the first Universal Exposition of 1888, ends in the expansive green space of Parc de la Ciutadella. The second part of the route can be enjoyed in the Montjuïc area, the nerve center of the 1929 Universal Exposition, and along the waterfront. The starting point is Plaça d'Espanya, from where you pass by the Venetian Towers, and along Avinguda Maria Cristina you head towards the Magic Fountain and the Palau Nacional, home to the MNAC (National Art Museum of Catalonia). Nearby is Poble Espanyol. Further up, the route reaches the Olympic Ring, with the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, built in 1929 and renovated for the 1992 Games. At the very top stands Montjuïc Castle, offering spectacular views. Afterwards, you descend the seaward side of the mountain, passing through the Poble-sec neighborhood and Port Vell, until you reach Barceloneta, the final point of both the route and the novel.
